Times O.C.’s Annual Book Lunch Resumes

The Los Angeles Times’ Orange County edition’s annual Book and Author Luncheon is returning.

After a two-year hiatus, the event, which began in 1988, will be held Nov. 9 at the Hilton Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol St.

The guest authors who will discuss their books are Joel Kotkin (“The New Geography: How the Digital Revolution Is Reshaping the American Landscape”), James Welch (“The Heartsong of Charging Elk”) and Liza Dalby (“The Tale of Murasaki”).

The lunch begins at 12:30 p.m. A book signing will follow the speakers. The cost is $35. Tickets go on sale today. For reservation information, call (714) 966-5972.

Guru Discusses Book

Spiritual guru Ram Dass will discuss his new book, “Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing and Dying” at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Inside Edge breakfast forum at the University Club at UC Irvine, Los Trancos and Peltason East.

Admission is $35. For reservations, call (949) 460-4242.

Also Coming Up:

* Jan Burke, whose 1999 mystery “Bones” won the Edgar Award for best novel from the Mystery Writers of America, will discuss her mystery series at the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library, 12700 Montecito Road, Seal Beach. 3 p.m. Sunday. (562) 430-1048.

* Author Kathleen Krull and illustrator Kathryn Hewitt will sign “Lives of Extraordinary Women” at the White Rabbit Children’s Bookstore in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. (714) 445-0010.

* John Friel will sign “The Seven Smart Things Teens Do” at Borders in the Block, 20 City Drive West. 7 p.m. Wednesday. (714) 385-1025.

* Carolina Garcia-Aguilera will discuss and sign “Havana Heat” at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 11931 Valley View St., Garden Grove. 7 p.m. Wednesday. (714) 898-2583.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview Taylor Smith (“The Innocents Club”) on “Writers on Writing” on KUCI (88.9 FM). 5 p.m. Thursday. A book signing will follow the interview, which will be broadcast live from Borders, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Dennis McDougal, publisher of “The Local Concierge,” and Barbara DeMarco Barrett, the Southern California magazine’s editor, will discuss freelance writing at Borders, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. Friday. (949) 631-8661.

* John Morgan Wilson (“The Limits of Justice”) and Taylor Smith (“The Innocents Club”) will discuss the Diverse World of Writing at Borders, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. 3 p.m. Saturday. (949) 631-8661.

* Glynn Marsh Alam will discuss and sign “Dive Deep and Deadly” at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 11931 Valley View St., Garden Grove. 1 p.m. Saturday. (714) 898-2563.

* Peter Robinson will sign “Cold Is the Grave” at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Costa Mesa. Noon Saturday. (714) 538-3210.

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Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail to dennis.mclellan@latimes.com.